mosker

Workplace violence

Early this morning, an employee at Ohio State University shot and killed his boss, injured another worker, and then turned the gun on himself. link

The university's website provides a brief news item about the incident, reassuring everyone that "at no time were any students in danger, and no students were involved in the incident." Obviously that's a good thing, but I am disturbed that campus officials are giving every impression of moving right along because those affected are just staff.

If the victims had been students or faculty, would the campus be continuing with its normal class and work schedule? If you spend any time in academe you will hear the phrase "students, faculty, and staff" to indicate the priority higher education places on the campus community, but it is disheartening to see that staff appear to be held with such low regard that the campus is doing nothing more than securing the building.

I would like to be able to express outrage about the callous response by university officials to this horrific attack on people who just go in and do their job, day after day, but it just doesn't seem to surprise me so much as it just really disappoints me. Do we really place so little value on the lives of people who don't have high paying jobs and whose names don't get added to research papers?

Calling 911? Will that be cash or credit?

When's the last time you called 911? While I haven't needed emergency medical services from 911 for myself, I have called a handful of times to report that someone else needed assistance. Like that time I watched a car swerve out of control and flip several times before landing on someone's front lawn. It was kind of like a movie crash, but the property damage was quite real, as were the injuries I suspect the driver suffered.

If I lived in Tracy, California, I would have to think long and hard about whether I could afford the $300 the city would charge me for calling 911 to report a medical emergency. I suppose it would reduce the number of duplicate calls they get for the same incident, but what about when everyone assumes that someone else will call? Or when no one stops to help because they cannot afford to pay the fee and the victim dies from a treatable injury.

Even in communities where residents are afraid to report what they see to the police when a crime has been committed will call 911 to report that someone needs help. If this policy is actually implemented, there will be people who just keep their heads down and not report that their neighbors need help because they cannot afford the charge. The City of Tracy may be desperate to fill the giant hole in their budget, but what they will actually accomplish will be the destruction of any sense of community because the residents cannot afford to get involved.

It must be nice to be wealthy and well-connected

This item came through CNN's breaking news feed this morning:

What exactly is there to negotiate? If you are charged with a crime, you either turn yourself in or the police come and arrest you. Or you go into hiding and hope they never find you. Are they thinking they can get a bigger cell or a private toilet? Perhaps he's hoping to bring his own sheets. Whatever.

I understand that the wealthy have the resources to secure the best possible defense and are more likely to make bail and generally spend less time behind bars than accused who lack sufficient resources, but I can't see where someone charged with a crime has any room to "negotiate" their surrender.

Just don't drive

I drive a Toyota--a 2003 Tacoma--that I bought new. I wanted something that would last a long time--I was buying a house and I knew that I wouldn't be able to get a new car for a long time. I'm also not car crazy and I don't need the latest and greatest vehicle on the road. I will admit to being won over to Toyota because of their reputation for quality and durability, and I like the idea that Toyota vehicles generally held their value better than other brands.

Oh, how times have changed. So far, at least, my model and year have not been included in any of the recent recalls (the floor mat is well-secured to the floor board and the pedal has never failed to spring right back), but I'm sure the resale value has plummeted. I wasn't planning to sell it because I still can't afford to replace it, but I can't help but eye it warily at times, and wonder if the recall will be extended to include mine as well. Perhaps the quality had already declined when mine was built, and maybe it won't last as long as I'd been led to believe?

Of course, it's even worse for owners of vehicles that have been identified as defective. Toyota took their own sweet time in communicating with their customers, and now the government has piled on by telling them that they shouldn't even drive their cars until they are repaired. Are they serious? How is that even feasible? Perhaps I am in the minority here, but I don't keep a spare car in the garage, just in case mine is subject to a recall. I suspect it will take weeks, if not months, before all of the affected vehicles are retrofitted (and that assumes Toyota has accurately assessed the problem and implemented a viable fix).

Maybe this will prove to be the edge that U.S. automakers need to challenge Toyota in the marketplace (apparently Ford's sales have climbed in the wake of this P.R. disaster), but it's hard to be enthusiastic when it is at the expense of the consumer--who can least afford the hit.

According To Venezuela Obama Is Responsible For Haiti Earthquake

I’m not even sure The Onion could make this stuff up. State-owned radio and television stations in Venezuela (Hugo Chavez state-owned) are apparently reporting that the cause of last week’s devastating earthquake in Haiti was caused by “secret” U.S. “weapon of earthquakes.”

via www.mediaite.com

First Pat Robertson tells us that the Haiti quake was the result of a "pact with the devil" and now Venezuela tells us that the U.S. caused the quake with our secret earthquake machine. Which is really confusing, when you consider the earlier reports that Hugo Chavez thinks that Obama is the devil, which would mean that the Haitians had formed a pact with Obama? Wouldn't that be some kind of violation of the trade embargo? It's all a vicious circle which has left my head spinning. 

Still, it's good to have this information, because otherwise I would have been forced to rely on the facts. 

Peanut butter recall

I thought I could completely ignore the recent peanut-related Salmonella recall. Other than jars of peanut butter that I purchase from the grocery store five or six time a year (and which are not on the recall list), I couldn't think of anything particularly peanut-y that I eat.

Oh, yeah, except for those snack bars I keep in my bag in case I work late (or decide that lunch seems really, really far away). The Clif Bar company voluntarily added several runs Luna Bars to the list, including the box I purchased on Saturday. I already ate one and haven't suffered any ill-effects, but just to be on the safe side, I'll probably dispose of them.

The FDA page about the recall is here, and if you scroll down to the list of company recalls you check for your favorites too.

Oh, and if you're interested, there's an email list and RSS feed of FDA recalls and alerts. Look for the link in the right-hand column of the page.

10 years missing

This boy went missing 10 years ago and his disappearance was never reported by his adoptive parents. It's likely the police would have never gotten involved had it not been for a tip that came in three weeks ago.

The only rational explanation for the parents' not reporting it is that they were covering up a crime.

Why adopt a child if you don't want him?

Guns for groceries

Another sign of the times: L.A. County wrapped up its annual "Gifts for Guns" gun buyback program this past weekend and had a record turnout. Gun owners were able to trade their weapons for $100 gift cards (the value was double for automatic weapons) from Ralphs supermarkets, Target, or Best Buy. Unlike previous years, more people opted to take the food card this year.

This year's event netted the Sheriff's Department 965 weapons and 2 hand grenades.

Don't worry if you missed out, however, because the 25-year old legislation that prohibited the carrying of firearms in federal parks has been struck down. If you have a concealed carry permit in your home state, starting in January you'll be able to tote that loaded weapon around with you as you hike around Yosemite (and 387 other parks).

I'm guessing those hand grenades would still be prohibited though.